Leaf trading cards were currently in the news due to their partnership with the legendary basketball media outlet “Ballislife.” This has put collectors of Leaf trading cards in a quandary about the cards’ current value and if this partnership is a good sign for the collectors.
In this blog, we’ll look to answer all those questions that you might have related to Leaf trading cards, and we’ll also give you the answer: “Is it worth investing in Leaf trading cards in 2025?“
Key Takeaways:
- There is still unrest in the market after the company’s founder left the company.
- The variance of the revenue growth is more than the industry average which means company’s revenue is not stable.
- It would be best for beginners to invest in leaf cards for better understanding of the market.
- Pros have to do their research to figure out the best cards worthy of their investment.
- Short-term flipping can be a good idea for a quick profit.
- Long-term investment is still not advised.
Table of Contents
What’s in the History for us?
The “Leaf Trading Cards” as a company was established in 2010, a year later after Panini secured its exclusive rights to produce NBA trading cards. The company was founded by Brian Gray, former head of Razor Entertainment in Dallas, Texas.
This was a testament to the growing trend of collecting athlete-exclusives items and special retail products. Since back then, the market was already dominated by some big players like Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini, it was almost impossible for Leaf to compete due to their relative inexperience in the industry.
For this reason, the company thought to play it safe and tried to find their own footing in the cutthroat but lucrative market.
They concentrated their focus on producing unlicensed cards of up-and-coming players and future prospects and focused on some relatively unnoticed sports like power slap, table tennis, and card games like poker.
Although Leaf hasn’t been able to sign any exclusive card contracts with the Big four leagues leading the US market, it has positioned itself as a key player and one of the most aggressive trading card-producing companies in the history of trading card market, consolidating their cards as a valuable and well-recognized asset for any collector.
Why People Prefer Leaf Trading Cards Over Others
Leaf has constantly targeted a very specific market segment, that is, collectors looking for affordable trading cards with high-quality feel and design.
Leaf cards are still average when compared to cards from other manufacturers like Topps and Panini, but their recent card releases have certainly made a big comeback, taking their lessons from their previous hiccups in design.
It is no doubt that as the company gets more experience, we will see some incredible headline-worthy cards coming out of Leaf.
Current Partnerships of Leaf Trading Cards
When it comes to the question of “Why do people prefer leaf trading cards over others,” one of the answers would be their unique approach of attracting newer collectors.
They are not only signing exclusive contracts with big athletes, such as Jack Eichel of hockey, and Ryan Montgomery from football, but also simultaneously trying to appeal to the Zoomer audience by either collaborating or producing cards of various social media influencers.
For instance, they have recently taken their card theme inspiration from a Youtube channel, “RunGoodLife,” and produced the Seattle-themed RGL online-exclusive set.
Being featured on a trading card is pretty cool… but having your own set is next level cool.
— RunGoodLife (@RunGoodLife) November 26, 2024
A huge shoutout to @Leaf_Cards for collaborating with me on this Seattle-themed RGL online-exclusive set.
Officially checklisted with Leaf ✅
Gradable with PSA, BGS, SGC? ✅ pic.twitter.com/ijUCWwuLE2
Additionally, they are producing exclusive singles of Instagram celebrities and influencers from other platforms. For example, in 2023, they produced a “POP CENTURY INFLUENCER” card of @Abbeyberner, which got them a massive ad campaign-like success. A single post from Barner was able to get them attention of more than 250k people.
YOU GUYS CAN PURCHASE MY TRADING CARDS NOW!!!!!! 😱😱😱😱@Leaf_Cards https://t.co/EXV97B2uuV pic.twitter.com/NOnWV6rKK5
— abbyberner (@abbyberner_) February 13, 2023
The Good’s of the Company
Offering an Affordable Entry Point
This has remained the leaf cards’ selling point, which is to offer an entry-level price point for all collectors to start their collection. For example, an autographed Leaf card might cost a fraction of what a similarly styled Topps card would.
But this affordability doesn’t compromise on value, as Leaf cards have demonstrated strong appreciation in value over time, particularly for rare or limited-run items.
According to some experts, this can work out in the company’s favor with the future rise of the hobby market and newer collectors interested to start their first personal collection, meanwhile trying to understanding the trading card market better.
But some believe that it can backfire, as the company would never be able to attract serious, big-time investors because of the company’s significant focus on the humble market.
Fascinating Unseen Duals, Triples and Quadruples
The company is also known for its cards with interesting pairings of players from different sports leagues all together under the banner names, such as Dual Graphics and Sports Heroes. The criteria for pairing two players is unknown but is very unique to Leaf trading cards.
This can be fascinating to a lot of collectors looking to find pairs of their favorite sports heroes from different leagues in a single card.
The Bad’s of the Company
Lack of Exclusive Licenses
As mentioned above, Leaf has a different approach to claiming their position in the trading card market. Because of this, it hasn’t been able to, nor really focused on getting any exclusive rights from the leading sports leagues of the country.
Instead, it has managed to crack exclusive contracts with a few niche sports, such as Power Slap, Major League Table Tennis, and NTL, to first become a familiar name in the trading cards manufacturing industry or at least for all the major collectors and investors in their heads.
While Leaf is trying to mitigates this shortcoming by focusing on individual athletes, the lack of licensing could limit their appeal to collectors who prioritize official branding over everything.
See also: 2023-24 Topps Chrome Cosmic Basketball Complete Checklist
Key Events in the History of the Company
- The company was acquired by Orange Mountain Capital, a company that helps businesses with their international expansion, in the month of November, 2023. And Since then, the company hasn’t seen any significant recovery in their overall revenue. Although the impact of their current partnership with “Ballislife” is yet to be seen. According to Kona Equity, the following is the valuation graph of the Leaf Trading cards from 2019 till 2024.
2. It was a big unrest when the company’s founder, Brian Gray, left the company just one day before their acquisition under Orange Mountain Capital. It is speculated that the following step was taken by the founder after the alleged scam reports under the company’s name.
3. There were claims that some of the Leaf signatures were forged. The actor, Ari Lehman, who played Jason Voorhees in the first film of the Friday the 13th series, complained that the signature on his Leaf card was not real. The company came ahead and admitted the counterfeit nature of the signatures but blamed the event on an unscrupulous third-party vendor.
4. Additionally, there were some who posted about their leaf cards not getting graded by PSA, for which we have no date to back the argument, but just a tweet from the complainee.
Do people still like Leaf trading cards? (the market behavior)
No, all of these above events, along with people having to deal with inflated prices of leaf cards, have left a lot of Leaf trading card investors in misery.
For most investors, they have seen a severe price decline in their Leaf trading cards’ value over the years because of the demand-supply instability. The company keeps on producing more while the demand is not able to catch up with the supply.
While the company is gaining popularity through various means, there is still a negative mood about the company in the market, which is pretty evident through its decrease in revenue over the past few years.
Should You Invest in Leaf Trading Cards in 2025? (Conclusion)
While it may be a good idea to look towards leaf cards for short-term flipping, nothing can be said about their long-term investment. As the company resettles with its newer head, it would be interesting to see their forward approach for the year ahead. While it would be best for beginners to invest in leaf cards for better understanding of the market, pros have to do their research to figure out the best cards worthy of their investment.
Additionally, Leaf trading cards can be purchased for personal enjoyment alone, without regard to their potential as an investment.
FAQs:
Are Leaf draft cards worth investing in?
Yes, while Leaf Draft cards may not carry official team logos or league branding, they focus on individual athletes, particularly emerging talent or big stars at the collegiate level. This makes them an excellent entry point for those who want to invest in trading cards without spending a fortune.
What is the value of my Leaf trading card?
Different Leaf trading cards have different values. To estimate the value of your Leaf Trading Card, research recent sales on platforms like eBay, StockX, or auction sites. Grading your card can also provide a more accurate valuation for your card.
Should I Invest in Leaf Trading Cards in 2025?
Considering the risks involved and the brand still being relatively new in the market, investing in Leaf trading cards should only be done for personal enjoyment or if you’re building your own collection. Short-term flipping can also be done considering all the key factors that affect your card’s value.
Can I get my Leaf trading cards graded from PSA, CGC, or BGS?
Yes, you can have your Leaf Trading Cards graded by major grading services such as PSA, SGC, CGC, or BGS. Although, be careful of the purchase of any counterfeits in the market; that can affect your grading by these companies.
Are Leaf trading cards licensed?
No, Leaf Trading Cards are not officially licensed by major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, or MLB. As a result, their cards do not feature team logos or official league branding.
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